Bulgaria’s National Council for Journalism Ethics slams coverage of ‘Petrohan case’

Bulgarian NGO the National Council for Journalism Ethics, in a statement on February 9, slammed the country’s media coverage of the “Petrohan case” in which six people died of gunshot wounds.

The “Petrohan case” involves the deaths by gunfire of three men in a hut near the Petrohan Pass in north-western Bulgaria, followed by the discovery of three more corpses, one a 15-year-old child, in a remote area near Okolchitsa Peak on February 8.

The deaths have received extremely prominent coverage in the Bulgarian-language media since first being reported, generally leading broadcast news bulletins and dominating media websites. In turn, the circumstances surrounding the deaths have been the subject of numerous comments on social media, and are expected to be raised in Bulgaria’s Parliament, with the facts remaining disputed.

Statements by official institutions were sparse and speculative, before a formal briefing on February 9, while for days the Bulgarian-language media indulged in giving platforms to various voices which had no first-hand information.

The National Council for Journalism Ethics said that from February 8, after the tragic news of the deaths related to the “Petrohan case”, the media had “included guests and experts in regular and special programmes who commented on the events in anticipation of more official information”.

“In these programmes, the guests were asked questions about the perpetrators and even about their guilt, and there were cases where the guests suggested versions about specific ‘murderers’ and ‘paedophiles’ without evidence and even before the specialist bodies had disclosed information about the number of deaths and the results of the investigative actions”.

The Commission for Journalistic Ethics said that it objects “to the flagrant disregard for the Code of Ethics of the Bulgarian media and the arbitrary suggestions of versions not based on facts”.

“We call for a stop to the violation of ethical standards related to accuracy, impartiality and the presumption of innocence.”

The NGO said that it also noted with concern the disclosure of the identity of children and their families, even when it is possible that this may harm them.

It said that the Code of Ethics of the Bulgarian Media provides for a general standard for the protection of privacy, but also a special standard prohibiting the disclosure of the identity of children who are in trouble or affected by crimes when this may harm them, citing the relevant clause: “We will not disclose the identity of children who are in trouble or affected by crimes when this may harm them.”

“The media are obliged to refrain from interfering in privacy in violation of ethical rules, especially when children are affected,” the statement said.

“Days are ahead in which investigative actions will attract the interest of all media,” it said.

It called for “strict compliance with ethical journalistic rules, respect for the rights of the affected persons and refraining from unproven assessments and accusations”.

Bulgaria’s statutory regulator of the broadcast media, the Council for Electronic Media, had as of February 9 yet to comment.

(Archive photo: Interior Ministry)